Saint Germain Jazz Festival

By David Dadoun | Published: May 21, 2019

saint germain jazz trumpetistSince the early 1920s, Paris has been a haven for great jazz, and that is especially true in the Saint Germain area where jazz clubs abound.  So the Saint Germain Jazz Festival, running through May 27, is a great opportunity to see a host of great artists.  Hosted at several venues within the Saint Germain area (including the Sorbonne), it is not too late to get tickets, which may be purchased online.   Of course, the area is also know for some great bars and restaurants, including Le Relais de L’Entrecote (for steak), L’Epi Dupin (classic bistro), and in the Latin Quarter, bars and restaurants on Rue de la Huchette.  For something truly special, try an evening out at Josephine Chez Dumonet.

Printemps à Paris (Spring in Paris)

By David Dadoun | Published: May 21, 2019

Trees are sprouting leaves, flowers are in bloom, sparrows sing wake-up melodies at dawn, and morning rain cleans the narrow cobble stone streets. It is spring in Paris. With spring sun giving a shimmer of warmth and sunlight from the dull, grey days of winter, people are donning sunglasses, hitting the cafés, and sitting outside on the terraces to take it all in. Children (and adults) tend to skip, not walk, and smile a little more as the sun now pierces through the clouds beating down on them. The jardins are now a venue for a pique-nique lunch, or afternoon snack. Read More »

Winter Sale (Soldes)

By David Dadoun | Published: February 15, 2019

soldesParis only has two sanctioned sales during the year — in January and February just after the Christmas break and in July just before the August holiday.  The winter sale is in full swing through February 19, with many stores now in their second and third markdown.  Unlike sales in the U.S., stores are open mostly during normal hours, except have extended days open on a few Sundays.  While it seems impossible, French law only allows sales during this time period, otherwise stores must get permission from the police to hold discounted sales outside this time period.  The theory behind this is that this protects the small mom and pop shops from heavy discounting by the major giants, like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, but, in reality, this is a way to preserve price protection and state sanctioned price parity among retailers. Read More »

Black Truffle Season In Paris

By David Dadoun | Published: February 14, 2019

WP_20150123_019Winter season may be viewed as a lowlight for fresh harvests from the earth, but the most prized and expensive bounty is cultivated from December through early February — the black truffle.  More expensive than caviar, black truffles sell for over 1,000 Euros a kilo, fine restaurants share, for a short period of time this special treat — but expect to pay high prices for enjoying black truffles on the menu.  Black truffles are especially popular with foie gras, risotto and simply with eggs (in an omlette).  Just about any restaurant worth its salt has a special black truffle dish on the menu.

Some of our favorite places to find black truffles in Paris are:

Read More »

Lingerie Boutiques In Paris — Popular As The Baguette

By Elise de Medici | Published: February 13, 2019

There are a few things you will quickly notice about Paris:  a boulangerie on just about every block, a pharmacy on every other block, and upscale lingerie boutiques displaying their seductive wares as commonly as a baguette.  Unlike Victoria’s Secret, which appeals as strongly to men clientele as women, the lingerie boutiques are decidedly for women.  Indeed, men rarely step into these boutiques, and are usually shoved out the door given they simply have no clue what to buy.  And while Valentine’s Day may create some churn in business, let’s face it — these shops are busy all year round.  Now with the release of Fifty Shades of Grey, visiting Paris and these boutiques you will also see where the book and film got their inspiration. Read More »

Valentine’s Day in Paris

By Charlotte McCulloch | Published: February 13, 2019

IMGP0527.JPGParis will always be a city synonymous with love, for most of us it’s the first place we come to when thinking of the perfect destination for a romantic break. This does mean however that many other couples will have the same idea of visiting The City of Light over the 14th February, so it’s important to plan ahead. If you are flying into Paris, certain airlines, like Air France may offer special deals on airfares over the Valentine’s weekend to encourage visitors, but do make sure you shop around for the best deal.

Once there an abundance of romantic things to do lie at your fingertips, here are some of the best to help you plan that perfect Valentine’s Day in Paris. Read More »